Last Minute Gift Ideas

December 21, 2011

Found this great recipe via The Oregonian for Chai Tea Concentrate. Put it in a cute jar, throw a bow on it, cute mug and bada bing, bada boom, you’ve got a gift. If I’m feeling extra ambitious I may even make some biscotti to put in the bag.

To save you even more time, you can purchase all the ingredients at Target.

Ingredients

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional)

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground fennel (optional)

Instructions

Empty condensed milk into a jar or plastic container with tight-fitting lid. Stir in the sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Store in refrigerator.

To use: Brew a cup of strong black tea, such as Assam, then add two heaping teaspoons of concentrate or more to taste. Stir well until concentrate has fully melted.

To give: Pour into small jars with lids and tie with an attractive bow, or wrap the jar first. Attach a tag with instructions to keep the mix refrigerated and how to use it.

To keep: Store in refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Or if you’re missing some of those ingredients, brown sugar body scrub is always a winner.

Ingredients

– 2 cups brown sugar

– 1 cup white granulated

-1 cup sunflower oil

1 tsp vanilla, almond, lemon or peppermint extract

Instructions

Mix the brown and white sugar together to remove lumps. Add in the sunflower oil (it’s non-como -whatever that word is that means it doesn’t clog your pores. These girls know).

Add whichever scent you like best. I ended up with almond and vanilla.